"She loves him," said Sally, "she loves him, and what a wonder would it be if she did not! Her own face is a goodly one, fit to be loved indeed.

And how beautifully she rides. Were I a maiden of quality, how gladly and swiftly would I leap to the back of a good horse, and away, and away! Ah, I say again, I should love it, I know."

She sat dreaming after the two figures as they rode away, her young heart swelling with admiration of them both. Somewhere, way down in the depths of her soul, there was a little hurt as the winsome pair sped along the far dim road. She was too young to know just what the p.r.i.c.k meant, but her good Fairy was at hand.

"Back to your book, Maid Sally," it said, "and sit not gazing after those who can ride of a summer's morn, wishing in your silly young heart that you too could ride. Your turn may come; who knows?"

"It was not quite that I might also ride," answered Sally, "it was--everything."

"Yes, I know," said the Fairy. "You are quick to reach for that which is beyond you. That is not strange. But keep to your studies and your singing; good things come slowly to the poor, but mind you--they may come!"

"Good Fairy, you do always hearten me," cried Sally, and back she went to her book.

But she did not forget the proud and happy face that the Lady Rosamond Earlscourt turned upon the Fairy Prince.

Then came another day long to be remembered, to be hidden in Sally's heart of hearts and kept there.

The morning broke so cool and sweet that Mistress Cory Ann had a mind to go into the town and buy meat and other things that would last for several days. b.u.t.ter and meat could be put on the shelf in the well, and no fear of spoiling.

After her morning's work had been cleverly done, Sally knew she could be free for a few hours. The men had gone far afield to work, taking their dinners with them, and it would be well past noon before Mistress Cory Ann would return.

Sally, from very youthful gladness of heart and joy of living, had a mind to make herself fine before going with her book to the greatly enjoyed seat in the large oak-tree.

So she went to the keeping-room, and, standing before the mirror hanging on the wall, she pinned midst her mat of ruddy-gold curls clumps of white strawberry blossoms, starry dogwood blooms, and a white rose or two.

Some time before this, Mistress Brace had seen in a peddler's pack a decent piece of white lawn, and as it was the cheapest thing he had that would make a comely gown for Sunday wear, she bought it for Sally.

The maiden sung now in the choir of a Sunday, and, because of the parson's keen eye, she must be seemingly dressed. But the gown was soiled and must soon be done up. So in a spirit of sport Sally put it on, and at breast and waist she pinned great posies of b.u.t.tercups, daffy-down-dillies, and sprays of fresh green leaves. Then she started for the pine woods and the oak-tree.

The sweetness, sunshine, and melody all about so charmed her for a time that the book for once lay idly in her lap.

"Life is beautiful," she murmured.

"Yes, life is beautiful!" echoed her Fairy; "it is but right that the young should enjoy it."

"I feel so glad to-day," said Maid Sally, "I would I might always feel this way."

"You are learning," said the Fairy, "and life is getting fuller for you every day."

"Yes, life is getting fuller every day," said Maid Sally.

At last she took up her book. The sun was growing very hot, but there was a cool breeze, and the maiden in the tree was reading steadily when again there came the sound of flying hoofs. They came all too swiftly. A very demon of a horse was tearing along the road, his mane flying, his tail out straight, and his body almost to the ground. The rider could not be made out in the mad rush and whirl of the frightened animal.

It was all over in a moment. Hotspur dashed into the woods, banged in his blindness against a pine-tree, and on the instant his rider, seeing a chance to dismount, leaped from his back. But before he could reach the ground, being so near the tree, up bounded the horse just in time to hurl his young master back to the edge of the saddle, from which he fell with such force that he lay on the ground senseless, his fair hair streaming back, his blue eyes closed, while the great hunter went thundering on his way.

Sally did not cry out nor lack for nerve. The finer part of her nature came to her help, as it always will where it but exists, and she felt the thrill of courage that is worth very much when prompt action is needed.

As she slipped from the tree the thought went through her mind:

"If he is killed, straight I must go to the great house and tell what I have seen. If he is but stunned, then must I do what I can to help him."

She bent over and could see that he was breathing. Like a flash she darted across to the house, caught up a dipper and filled it from the water-pail. Then back she sped and with hands that trembled bathed forehead and face, and dropped sprays of water into the parted lips.

Then she rubbed his hands and again sprinkled his brow.

Before long the eyes unclosed and fastened dreamily on the ministering maiden. But neither spoke. The eyes remained open, and began to rove a little. Sally saw that speech would come in a moment more.

But at that instant the sound of hurrying hoofs echoed in the distance, several of them, it seemed, and like a startled deer Sally turned, and before Bill, the groom, Corniel, and Sam Spruce rushed up to the spot where lay their young master, she was panting on her seat in the oak-tree.

CHAPTER XII.

WHO WAS SHE?

The colored servants had with them strong cordials that soon brought Lionel to himself.

No bones were broken, but he was lame and bruised, and it was some time before he could mount the gentle animal Sam Spruce had ridden in going forth to find him. Sally saw in a moment that it was Lord Rollin, the horse Lionel had used when riding with his cousin Rosamond.

Hotspur, after a mad gallop, had raced back riderless to the stables, stirrups dangling and saddle awry. This had sent the men out in hot haste to find out what had happened.

As soon as Lionel was fairly recovered, he looked all around.

"Where is the beautiful creature that gave me water?" he asked.

"No one gave you water, Mars' Li'nel," said the well-spoken Sam Spruce.

"We fetched cordial that brought you to."

"Yes, yes, I know that," Lionel replied, "but who was the lovely being all in white, with hair like the sun, eyes like stars, lips like cherries and with flowers all about her everywhere?"

Sam looked over to Corniel, winked, and touched his brow.

Lionel caught the gesture.

"Oh, now, none of that!" he said; "my head is not wandering. She came before you did, some charming little thing, I tell you, that was all brightness and flowers."

"We saw no one, Mars' Lion," began Corniel; "you was all 'lone when we comed up. Ef there'd been anybuddy else roun', dey couldn't 'a' got 'way dout our seein' 'em."

"Oh, well, never mind," said the young master, "if none of you saw any one, there's no use in talking, but I know what I saw, and my head wasn't light or flighty, either."

The well-trained servants did not reply, but Bill, the groom, who stood behind Lionel, rolled his eyes in so droll a fashion, at the same time touching his own woolly crown, that Sam Spruce only stopped a t.i.tter by a loud cough.

But he did not deceive his bright young master.

"Oh, you fellows may grin and make up eyes all you want to," he said, good-naturedly, "but I wasn't knocked crazy all at once, and one of these days you may find out I saw just what I say I did. Now get me home as fast as you can."

They helped him mount the proud but steady Lord Rollin, and in a moment more three of them rode away, leaving Sam Spruce to walk back.